Tuesday at the barn

elated over passing the audition of course and important not to "erase the finish line" but to celebrate the milestone.

Today: Try and I played with creative phases on level 1 online plus some touch it as warmup. Then Cathy came in with Shirley and since Try and Shirley are best buds the 4 of us walked around for about 10 minutes catching up on doings around the barn, upcoming events etc.

Then Try was "up" as she perhaps wanted to trot and canter with Shirley who moves at a much faster face. Soooo hopped off and watched them finish up and leave. Played some circling game variations and made up a new traveling circling game and played with "keep the rope on the ground" then played with canter trot transitions in stick to me. By that time Try was refocused and we went back for a nice trot/canter ride.

Keystone is going to a new home--I am sad for me but know he is going to love his new life as a casual trail horse!! What a sweet heart.

We did it!!

Try and I have passed level 3 and are now officially level 4 students!!!

studying

Studying Walter Zettl materials this morning. 2nd viewing of the dvd first series--this is answering some of the why of the L4 finesse materials.

Issue for me: creating nice big rhymical, relaxed trot and canter. Using HQ well--can we do that without contact? What is the proper way for me to begin taking contact?

Waiting .. Emotional Fitness Weeks

Three weeks and counting on the audition submission ...
Studying:
Walter Zettl materials
Karen Rohlf
Pat's L4 finesse
Self assessment list and Pat's video for L4 finesse

Goal: come up with a plan for beginning L4 finesse for Try and I.

Try wins the award for best horse of the day LOL

Try and I had fun today. Read about cookie fest on savvy club so put cookies around the arena and we played touch it and easter egg (cookie) hunt did all at liberty in the arena (280x300) then played with the focus game--riding 20 and 10 meter circle walk and trot folding arms--no people to make eye contact with just focused up and away--was fine until I needed to make a correction with my leg for precision in staying on the circle--wasn't able to let my focus travel a smooth circle while correcting--like my mind couldn't handle two things at once. Interesting. Then a little trot around the arena which was nice today. Then a little canter in the front circle--being careful today as no one around. Then liberty back to the barn, wash stall, back out to sit/handout in the shade etc. Try did not want to go back in.

Poor Keystone--he was so RBI RBE today. I forgot to be slow, careful and use lots of repetiton and consistency. Did get the backing I wanted but Keystone was an oh boy for me when he pulled away scared to go any where near the pedestal and tarp that he has been so confident around the last 10 days or so. More for me to think about. I don't think his core horsenality is LBI--I think its RBI.

Tuesday catchups

Catch up morning at the barn: supplements, bathe Try and Keystone.

Try: circling game online and then ride--repeat--going a little further of pre-finesse riding--waiting to hear from Kelly on video coaching.

Keystone: he seemed very pleased to come out and play. More confident, more relationship and bit by bit getting the idea of the games not just doing them. Hesitant to back--LBI.

out with the old and in with the new??

Well, anyway I am starting to think fall and that it is a new "school" year coming up. So I am thinking mess around and have a good time with Try and Keystone and study hard, on my own, level 4 and related materials so I can start soon on a new plan. (See August goals--August to plan and play to set up for September as beginning of L4 journey in all four savvies.) yahoo!!